Report: US. Planning Cyber Attacks On North Korea

North Korea and its leader Kim Jong-Un are 'ready for both dialogue and war', according to new comments released via the state-run Korean Central News Agency, as news emerges that the US is considering cyber attacks on the country Credit: KCNA VIA KNS/AFP

The Telegraph: US preparing 'bloody nose' cyber attacks on North Korea

The United States is drawing up plans for cyber attacks on North Korea in an effort to bring the regime of Kim Jong-Un to heel, according to intelligence sources, as Pyongyang says it is ready for "both dialogue and war" as the Winter Olympics draws to a close.

Washington's potential plans for a series of "bloody nose" attacks on targets in North Korea, as revealed by The Telegraph, could focus on digital rather than conventional warfare, sources have suggested.

A cyber assault could cripple Pyongyang's online communications and ability to control its military, causing huge disruption but avoiding the loss of life. It may also assuage concerns that a conventional attack against missile sites or nuclear facilities by the US could trigger a massive counter-strike by Kim Jong-Un.

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WNU Editor:  My guess is that if North Korea resumes missile and nuclear testing, these measures will then be used.

More News On North Korea's Cyber Threats

Here's a new North Korean hacking threat to worry about -- CNN
Watch out. North Korea keeps getting better at hacking -- NBC
North Korea Repositions Hacking Unit for Global Cyberattacks, Report Says -- Wall Street Journal
North Korea poised to launch large-scale cyberattacks, says new report -- Washington Post
North Korea Hacker Unit 'Reaper' Now Global Threat, FireEye Says -- Bloomberg

Is President Trump's North Korean Policy And Strategy Working?

CNN: Trump strikes optimistic tone on North Korea: 'We're making a lot of progress'

Seoul (CNN)President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he believes US-led international efforts to crank up the pressure on North Korea and his at-times menacing rhetoric are beginning to work.

But he has declined to reprise his inflammatory words of the past -- invoking neither "fire and fury" or "rocket man" -- so far during his time in the South Korean capital.

The US President did not offer any specific signs of progress, noting that his administration likes "to play our cards a little bit close to the vest." But alongside South Korean President Moon Jae-in during a joint news conference, Trump said he believes the US-led coalition is "making a lot of progress."

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WNU Editor: Too early to say if this policy/strategy is working .... but I have seen more movement among the major powers on what to do with North Korea in the past 6 months that in the past 16 years.

U.S. Deploys More Navy Assets To The Korean Peninsula

October 13 , 2017 © U.S. NAVY

Business Insider: It looks like a US Navy armada will return to waters near North Korea

The US Navy's USS Michigan attack submarine arrived in Busan, South Korea's southern port city, on Friday, and it looks like it will be joined by a US aircraft carrier in a bold challenge to a defiant North Korea, Yonhap news reports.

The Michigan, a nuclear-powered attack submarine, carries with it some 150 Tomahawk cruise missiles that experts told Business Insider could prove incredibly useful in a strike on North Korea's nuclear infrastructure.

Additionally, the submarine is known to sometimes carry special forces. In April, South Korean media reported that Navy SEALs aboard the Michigan had trained with a local force to decapitate North Korea's Kim Jong Un regime.

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More News On The U.S. Deploying More Naval Assets To The Korean Peninsula

Trump Sends Second Aircraft Carrier To Korean Peninsula With 7,500 Sailors, Marines Aboard -- Zero Hedge
US and Korea navies to conduct joint maritime counter special operations exercise -- DVIDS
U.S. aircraft carrier, ROK navy to stage drills off Korean peninsula -- NK News
US nuclear submarine in Korea -- The Korea Herald
US nuke sub arrives in South Korean port amid tensions on peninsula -- RT
USS Tucson, supersonic bomber deployed to South Korea -- UPI

North Korea Warns The U.S. That 'We’re On The Brink Of Nuclear War'

Kim Jong-un, center, before a nuclear test at an undisclosed location, according to the North’s state-run news agency. Credit KCNA

CNN: North Korea foreign minister: Trump has 'lit the wick' of war

(CNN)US President Donald Trump has "lit the wick of the war" against North Korea, a Russian state news agency quoted North Korea's foreign minister as saying on Wednesday.

The statement follows weeks of escalating tensions between North Korea and the United States, fueled by Pyongyang's repeated nuclear tests and Trump's tough talk.

Speaking to Russia's state-run TASS news agency, North Korea's Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho cited Trump's September speech to the United Nations General Assembly in New York as the tipping point.

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Update #1: North Korea to US: We’re on the brink of nuclear war (NYPost)
Update #2: DPRK people demand US be punished by 'hail of fire' for aggressive policy — top diplomat (TASS)

WNU Editor: No one wants to back down on the rhetoric.

President Trump Discussing 'Range Of Options' On North Korea With His Security Team

President Donald J. Trump, joined by Vice President Mike Pence; White House Homeland Security Adviser Tom Bossert, left; Acting U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Elaine Duke, background-right, and FEMA Administrator Brock Long, right, speaks with Puerto Rico’s Governor Ricardo A. Rossello, Tuesday, September 26, 2017, on a video teleconference in the Situation Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., on the latest Hurricane Maria relief and recovery efforts for the island. (Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead)

The Hill: Trump discusses 'range of options' on North Korea with security team

President Trump met with his national security team on Tuesday to discuss "a range of options" on North Korea in response to its increasing nuclear ambitions, the White House said.

Trump and military officials met to discuss "a range of options to respond to any form of North Korean aggression or, if necessary, to prevent North Korea from threatening the United States and its allies with nuclear weapons," the White House said in a statement.

The president received a briefing from Defense Secretary James Mattis and Chairman of the Joints Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford as part of the meeting. Trump was also scheduled to have lunch on Tuesday with Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson.

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More News On President Trump Discussing 'Range Of Options' On North Korea With His Security Team

Trump, top defence officials, discuss North Korea options - White House -- Reuters
Donald Trump meets advisers to discuss North Korea options, says Official -- Financial Express/AFP
Trump touts military option for North Korea that generals warn would be 'horrific' -- Chicago Tribune/Foreign Policy
Trump, defense officials discuss NK options -- Korea Herald/Yonhap
Donald Trump summons US Generals to White House WAR ROOM over North Korea -- Daily Star

North Korea Is Accusing The CIA Of Trying To Assassinate Kim Jong-Un In May

Reuters

The Independent: North Korea says 'terrorist' CIA tried to assassinate Kim Jong-un with chemical weapon

'Heinous terrorists' tried to topple the Supreme Leader, state-run news agency claims.

North Korea has claimed the US tried to assassinate its Supreme Leader, Kim Jong-un, earlier this year.

The state-run Korea Central News Agency (KCNA) claimed the CIA attempted to use a chemical or biological poison to take out the dictator.

The alleged attempt shows the US is the “main culprit behind terrorism”, it said.

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Update #1: Kim Jong-un assassination plot: North Korea claims US tried to kill leader in May (News.com.au)
Update #2: N. Korea accuses US of May assassination try against Kim (Asia Times)

WNU Editor: There are many people who want him dead .... the CIA  should be the least of his worries. As to who want s him dead the most .... aside from those in North Korea, South Korea would be on the top of my list .... South Korea Plans ‘Decapitation Unit’ to Try to Scare North’s Leaders (New York Times)

CIA Is Predicting A North Korean Provocation On Colombus Day

Kim Jong-un, center, before a nuclear test at an undisclosed location, according to the North’s state-run news agency. Credit KCNA

US News and World Report: CIA Official Predicts North Korean Provocation on Columbus Day

The things Kim Jong Un used to fear most about China and the U.S. are no longer a concern, the CIA Korea Mission Center’s Yong Suk Lee says.

A top CIA official for the Korean Peninsula warned Wednesday that the U.S. should be ready for a new provocation by North Korea on Columbus Day on Oct. 9, which coincides with the anniversary of the founding of the political party that governs in Pyongyang.

"Stand by your phones," Yong Suk Lee, deputy assistant director of the CIA's Korea Mission Center, said while speaking at a conference organized by the agency at The George Washington University.

Lee did not speculate what North Korea might do, though it frequently carries out missile launches or nuclear tests on major state anniversaries, such as the birthday of leader Kim Jong Un or other dates associated with the lives of his father or grandfather. Oct. 10 marks the anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party of Korea in 1945.

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WNU Editor: The same CIA official who is quoted in the above post also believes that Kim Jong-Un is very rational .... North Korea's Kim 'very rational': CIA (Digital Journal). Is Kim Jong-Un rational? Hmmm .... a person who orders the killing of his uncle and brother does not strike me as someone who is rational .... but that is me.

Is North Korea's 'CIA' A Threat To North America?

Reuters

Dave Mujumdar, National Interest: Should America Fear North Korea's 'CIA'?

North Korean intelligence apparatus is one of Pyongyang’s strong suites. Indeed, Pyongyang’s security services have demonstrated their ability to strike far from home as was shown during the assassination of Kim Jong-Nam—elder half-brother to the North Korean despot—in Malaysia. The Kim regime’s intelligence apparatus is ruthless and effective and could be used to good effect during any conflict on the Korean peninsula.

North Korea maintains an extensive intelligence collection and security apparatus—as might be expected of a totalitarian regime such as the so-called Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.

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WNU Editor: In the past North Korea did target South Korean leaders for assassination, as well as kidnapping Japanese civilians. Would the North Koreans shift their focus and start to target the U.S. directly .... with this regime nothing surprises me.

President Trump Orders Actions To Pressure North Korea

Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and U.S. officials met with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi and other Chinese officials at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing where they discussed North Korea. (Lintao Zhang)

Washington Post: Trump signed presidential directive ordering actions to pressure North Korea

Early in his administration, President Trump signed a directive outlining a strategy of pressure against North Korea that involved actions across a broad spectrum of government agencies and led to the use of military cyber-capabilities, according to U.S. officials.

As part of the campaign, U.S. Cyber Command targeted hackers in North Korea’s military spy agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau, by barraging their computer servers with traffic that choked off Internet access.

Trump’s directive, a senior administration official said, also included instructions to diplomats and officials to bring up North Korea in virtually every conversation with foreign interlocutors and urge them to sever all ties with Pyongyang. Those conversations have had significant success, particularly in recent weeks as North Korea has tested another nuclear weapon and ballistic missiles, officials said.

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WNU Editor: North Korea is not backing down .... State Dept: North Korea has shown no interest in talks on nuclear threat (The Hill).